Long Beach Area Red Cross volunteers Respond to Hurricane Sandy

“This response to Sandy is just getting started. The storm has left devastation in its wake and we will be helping people for weeks to come.” - Margaret Arbini Madonna, CEO of the Greater Long Beach and Rio Hondo Chapters

Posted November 06, 2012

Long Beach, November 6, 2012 - The American Red Cross has a huge relief response underway to Sandy, providing people across a number of states with a safe place to stay, food to eat and comfort during this difficult time.

Thousands of people have spent the night in hundreds of Red Cross shelters since the storm began its onslaught on the country. The Red Cross has already served more than 100,800 meals and snacks and mobilized more than 2,300 disaster workers and almost 200 emergency vehicles so far and more are being deployed.

The Greater Long Beach and Rio Hondo Chapters of the American Red Cross have deployed eight local volunteers who are helping in feeding, disaster mental health, sheltering and other Red Cross services in New Jersey and New York:

Mitch Henry, Feeding

Ralph Ilhe, Disaster Mental Health,

Rita Hooker, Feeding

Linda Timmons, Feeding

Carlos Rodriguez, Public Affairs

Roy Hanson, Logistics

Roland Barnes, Sheltering

Wilhelmina Mussman, Sheltering

Virginia Acevedo, Life Safety and Asset Protection

Mike Farrar, Safe and Well Linking

James Thomas, Jr., Sheltering

Mary Hirst, Disaster Mental Health

Deboria Sutton, Disaster Heath Services

Malia Gonzalez, Staff Planning and Support

“This response to Sandy is just getting started. The storm has left devastation in its wake and we will be helping people for weeks to come,” said Margaret Arbini Madonna, CEO of the Greater Long Beach and Rio Hondo Chapters. “This will be very costly and the Red Cross needs help now. We ask everyone to support us as we help people recover from this massive storm.”

HOW TO HELPThe response to Sandy is very large and very costly and the Red Cross needs the public’s help now. People can make a financial donation by visiting www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to the Greater Long Beach Chapter 3150 E. 29th Street, Long Beach, CA 90806.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD The storm has also caused the cancellation of hundreds of Red Cross blood drives, resulting in a loss of as many as 11,000 blood products and people are eligible are asked to schedule a blood donation now, especially if they live outside the areas impacted by the storm.

To schedule a donation time or get more information about giving blood, people can visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To give blood, someone must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them. Some states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.